How life has changed in Slough

Slough's population increased by about 21,100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 140,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Slough increased by 17.8%, from just over 119,000 to 140,000.

The addition of about 21,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the South East and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Slough was home to, on average, 31 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's third-most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Slough

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Slough decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This area had the third-lowest average age in the South East and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 6,200 children under the age of nine years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by about 600.

About 16.0% of people in Slough are aged under nine years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Slough by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

Slough saw England's largest fall in the proportion of households that owned their home.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.7%) households in Slough owned their home, compared with 66.4% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 10.7% to 24.3%.

Isles of Scilly saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of households that owned their home (from 39.9% to 41.7%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The rate of home ownership in Slough decreased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of households in Slough, the South East and England that owned their home, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Slough saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.8%) households in Slough had a single parent, compared with 8.7% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple remained close to 34.0%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households occurred in Enfield (from 11.3% to 16.7%).

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Slough increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Slough, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Slough

In 2011, 39.7% of Slough residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 28.2% in 2001. The 11.5 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 45.7% of people in Slough said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 63.7% in 2001. About 8.6% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 5.1% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 2.3% to 3.4%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Slough increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Slough by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Slough

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Slough, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they were Muslim, rising 10.2 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 24.7% of respondents in Slough said they were Muslim, up from 14.5% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as Muslim increased from 1.3% to 2.3%, while across England the percentage went from 3.5% to 5.6%.

Around 43.7% of respondents in Slough said they were Christian, down from 58.2% in 2001. About 12.9% said they had no religion, up from 11.9% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Slough increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Slough by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Slough

Slough saw England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over one in two (50.9%) households in Slough had no children, compared with 56.5% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 33.9% to 39.2%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of households without children occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 54.7% to 48.0%) followed by Redbridge (from 55.5% to 50.0%).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Slough

Slough saw the South East's largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 20 (5.0%) in Slough reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 5.8% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.7% to 3.3%.

Across the region, Elmbridge saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 7.3% in 2001 to 6.6% in 2011).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Slough residents that were self-employed increased from 6.2% to 8.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.2%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 59.1% in 2001. The percentage of Slough residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 5.4%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. The improvement brought health in Slough close to the national average 9.7% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of self-employment in Slough increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Slough, the South East and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Slough residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.8% to 4.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70.5% in 2001. The percentage of Slough residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.7% to 11.6%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Slough decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Slough, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Slough working less than 16 hours increased from 1.7% to 3.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 12 (8.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Slough increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Slough, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Slough

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership changed very little in Slough, while the proportion increased across the South East.

In Slough, the proportion of single people increased from 34.1% in 2001 to 34.8% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

The proportion of married people in Slough increased from 48.4% to 48.6%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10.4% to 11.2%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Slough residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 1.9% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Slough remained close to 1.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Slough by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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